Spring-wheel.



E. E. KERNS. SPRING-WHEELY. APPLICATION FILED Mums, 1912.

Patented July v15, 1913v A zsHnETs-snnn'l.

lll/Ill @witnesses xl PW.

E. E. KERNS.

SPRNG WHEEL.v

APPLICATION FILED APBHZI'. 1912. 1,067,349, Patented Julyl, 1913,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- @noauto/z:

witnesses /f 1"/7 11 www ELMER E. KERNS, 0F BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J uly 15, 1913.

Application filed April 25, 1912. Serial No, 693,100.

To all whom it may concer-n:

Be it known that I, ELnEn E. Knnxs., a citizen of the United States, residingat Bradford, in the county of McKean and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful linlnoven'xents in SpringlVheels; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, a nd exact descripti'oi'i of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art t-o which it. appertains to make and use the. same.

This invention relates to improvements in spring wheels.

One object of the invent-ion is to rovide a wheel of this character having an improved construction of rim formed in sections which are connected by springs whereby all shocks and jars resulting from the passage of the wheel over rough uneven surfaces will he absorbed.

Another object is to provide a wheel of this character having an improved construction and arrangement of springs for operatively connecting the sections of `the rim together.

i With these and other objects 'in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a side view of my improved wheel;.Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of a portion thereof; Fig. 3 is a similar view taken at right angles to and on the line 3-H3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the springs which connect the -sections of the rim together; Fig, 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the spring shown in Fig, 4; Fig, 6 is a cross sectional view of the rim and felly of the 'wheel taken on the line (56 of Fig. 2.

vReferring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the hub and 2 denotes the spokes of my improved wheel. Secured to the outer ends of the spokes is a telly 3 which may be of any suitable construction as may also be the spokes and hub of the Engaged with the telly 3 is the channel shaped inner section 4 of the wheel rim, said section being rmly secured to the felly by bolts 5 arranged therethrough and through the rim between the spokes as shown-` On the outer edges of the sides of the section 4 ofthe rim at suitable intervals and at equal distances apart are pairs of aperturedspring attachingr cars 4.- v

Slidably engaged with the inner. section 4 of the rim is an outer section `comprising side members or flanges Gand '7 which are.

engaged with the opposite sides ofthe rim section 4. On the outer edges 'of the mem# bers G are annular beads or enlargements 8 and formed integral with the inner side of one of said members is an annular tire receiving plate or ring 9, the outer edge of which is engaged with the inner side of the l which is engaged the dove tailed shapedinfner edge of a solid rubber or other form of tire 12v Arranged on the inner side Vof the annular plate or rim 9 is a series of inwardly ex-A tending radially disposed lugs "13 on the inner end of which are formed pairs of apertured ears 1.4. The lugs 13 and ears 14 ofthe rim 9 are disposed midway between the pairsof apertured ears on the sides ofthe inner section of the rim. In the inner sides. of the members 6 `and 7 of the outer section of the rim are annular grooves 15 having therein annular packing rings lwhich for-m a dust tight engagement with the outer sides of the inner section of the rim and prevent dust or dirt from entering between the sections of the rim.

Engaged with the apertured ears 14 are transversely disposed spring connectingrpins 1,7 while with the apertured ears 4a are engaged transverse spring attaching pins 18. Arranged between the apertured ears 4a and 14 and connected to the pins 17 and 18 are spring members 19 each of which comprises tubular telescoping sections 20 and 21. The section 20 comprises an outer socket 22 having at diametrically opposite oints in` its sit es rectangular longitudinal y disposed notches 23 and having on the inner end of its sides segmental stop flanges 24.- On the outer end of the socket 2Q is an apertured attaching lug which is adapted to receive one ot the pins lfl of the ears 4a on th outer edge of the inncr section 4 of the rini. The section 2l ot the spring member-'comprises a socket QV ha ving at diainetricallv opposite points in its sides longitudinally disposed notches 2T with which arc sldablv eogagcd the solid portions of the. sides of the socket- QQ of the member 20, while. thc-solid portions oi' the socket 2G slidably engage the notchesl 523 in the socket 22 as showin On the innr end of the solid portions of the socket 26 are segmental stop flanges 28 and engaged with the inner ends-of the solid portions of the sockets between the flanges 24 and f )tlthereon is a stop ring 2S) which limits the outward movementl of the sockets and prevents the disengagement of the sections 20 and 21 of the spring member.

in the outer end of the socket 9.6 is a centrally disposed aperture 30 with whichgis slidably engaged an interiorly threaded tubular shank 3l having on its outer end an -apertnred head 32 which is adapted to receive one of tbe pins 17 in the outer section Y 5 of the rim. Slida-bly mounted on the-tubular shank Blvwithin the socket 26 is a sprinOf retaining sleeve 33 having on its outerend an annular stop flange 34. The inner diameter of the sleeve 33 is slightlyr larger at the outer portion of the sleeve than `at thc inner port1on, thereby forming an annular shoulder 35 with which is engaged the head of a sleeve attaching screw 36 which is screwed into the threaded shank 31 and thereby holds the sleeve in place on the shank. The outside diameter of the sleeve is slightly less than the inner diameter of the socket 26 and on the sleeve and shank R1 between the flange 34 on the sleeve and the outer end of the socket is arranged a coiled spring 37`the pressure of which is eX- erted to force the sockets 22and 2.6 apart or away from each other, said `spring thus forming a` yielding resistance between the sections of the member as will be readily understood.

v By thus constructing the spring. members 19 and arranging the same between the inner and outer sections of the rim as herein shown and described, it will be seen that the movement of said sections of the rim on each other is yieldingly resisted in practically all directions thereby providing a cushioned support for the axles engaged with the hubv of the Wheel, andvfor the body of the vehicle and the load carried thereby.

Having thus described my invegtion7 what l claim is: v

l. ln condiination with a telly and movable rim section, of a. series of spring attaching members each of which is composed of two sockets haring sliding and interlock ing cngagcinenh meansl for preventing the sockets troutbecomingr discugagcd, a 'spring retaining sleeveslidably located within one ot" the sockets,.a stop flange forming-a part ot' the sleeve, a shank carricdb'v the retain ing sleeve, a spring adpisting' screw secured to the innerY end ofthe shank and adapted for contact with thc stop flange of the sleeve, and a spring arranged on said sleeve-and shank and having` its ends engaged' with the outer ends of the sockets whereby tlie' lattrr arc forced in opposite directions and are yicldingly holdin outwardly projected'positions.

in a spring wheel` a i'ellv, a rim comprising an inner section secured to said telly, an outer section slidably engaged with said inner section, a. series of springconnectionsl comprising pairs of sockets having therein longitudinally disposed notches,said notched portions of the sockets having a sliding interlocking engagement7 A segmental stop flanges on the inner ends of said sockets,' a stop ring` arranged around between laid flanged ends whereby the. same are preventcd from becoming disengagethan apcrtured attaching lug on the outer endof one of said sockets, a tubular interiorly threaded vshank having a sliding engagement inv the. opposing socket, an` apcrtnred head on the outer end ot saidshank, a spring retaining` sleeve arranged in the opposite socket, said sleeve having in its inner end .a reduced bore, a stop flange on the outer cud of said sleeve, a, spring adjusting screw loosely engaged with said sleeve and having a threaded engagement with said tubular shank` aud a'spring arranged on said slccvc'and shank and having its ends engaged with the outer ends ot the sockets whereby thcl latterv are forced in Vopposite directions and are vicldingtv hcld in outwardly projected positions.

in testimony whereof l'havc hereunto set my hand in presence ot two subscribing wi'tnesses. l i llLMlllt l. lill LYS. Witnesses z MARY T. Klimas, Darm Il.. Jack.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for ve cents each, by addressingl the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

